Get Making with these tutorials and starter projects - no academic content tie-ins required!
Starter projects are great ways for teachers to develop a project workflow while their students are introduced to new technologies. The projects highlighted here are good for beginners and most can be done in less than an hour. They are well-suited for family nights, open houses, faculty meetings, PD days, and other Maker-minded community events.
Looking for more? Check out our Webinars, Instructables, and Idea Gallery.
Starter projects are great ways for teachers to develop a project workflow while their students are introduced to new technologies. The projects highlighted here are good for beginners and most can be done in less than an hour. They are well-suited for family nights, open houses, faculty meetings, PD days, and other Maker-minded community events.
Looking for more? Check out our Webinars, Instructables, and Idea Gallery.
3D Print Hacks in Tinkercad
Design expressive 3D creations quickly using existing online models and shapes. Little to no experience with Tinkercad is needed! Tutorial slides Other Resources Video Tutorials 3D Printing Design rules Tinkercad Crash Course for Makers Finding good models to print on Thingiverse Tools tinkercad.com - Free, intuitive 3D CAD thingiverse.com - huge collection of 3D objects Scan the World - collection of 3D scans of art and artifacts from around the world Shadow Casters
Cast unique and interesting shadows using a hand fabricated LED projector, and custom shadow caster shapes.
Materials
3D Models from 2D MaterialsMake-Along Video
Set your own pace as you work through each chapter of this video tutorial.
Festive Flashlights
Shine some light on a customizable cut-out figure with this festive electronics project. Make an LED flashlight, a reflector, and a symbol out of easy-to-find materials. Your symbol will come to life as the reflected light washes over it.
LED Quiz BoardsMake-Along Video
Set your own pace as you work through each chapter of this video tutorial.
Snappy Rings
Get started with Tinkercad and 3D printing by designing a custom interchangeable snap-on ring.
Felt Funsters
Use conductive thread to light up some crafty creations! The stuffies are made from felt, hand-sewn with yarn, then stuffed with polyester fluff. Add at least one LED that lights up when the battery pack is turned on.
Light-Up Etched Acrylic Displays
Express yourself with a light-up acrylic display! This inexpensive and easy project is a great starter project for a makerspace and will help new makers get familiar with simple electronics, image processing, and using the laser cutter.
Scratch for MakersMake-Along Video
Set your own pace as you work through each chapter of this video tutorial.
Graphics Techniques for Makers
Prepare Learners to process graphics and images for laser cutting, 3D printing, and vinyl cutting applications.
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Box Automata
Build a robust hand-crank automata model with simple materials and tools. Explore cam-action concepts, create unique scenes and characters or retell a tale, and have fun!
Paper Lanterns
Set the mood in your classroom, or for warm summer nights, with paper lanterns. Cut out shapes or text on any kind of paper, and fold it up into a bag. Then illuminate it with light from inexpensive LED tea-lights. You will learn vector art techniques and how to create the lanterns on a Cricut or other craft cutter.
Don't have a Cricut or other cutter at home or at school? Don't sweat it... you can follow along and do the design steps for this project - there's plenty to try even if you can't cut and assemble a lantern. New to Cricut? Start here!
Cricut has a collection of learning resources at learn.cricut.com. Browse the site, or check out some of these highlights:
For Silhouette brand cutters, try their official Silhouette101 site. Project resources
This project was featured in a live webinar in collaboration with the MIT Museum. After reviewing the tutorial slides, if you feel stuck you can watch the recording. Tutorial slides - Cricut cutters Tutorial Slides - Silhouette cutters Tutorial pdf Cricut design template links Luminary template with scored fold lines Luminary template with small cuts on fold lines Silhouette design template files Luminary template with small cuts on fold lines .svg template files lantern-template-plain.svg lantern-template-jagged.svg Materials
Kit: colored paper LED tea light tissue paper You provide: tape Cricut, Silhouette or other craft/vinyl cutter Craft Foam "Rubber" Stamps
Shapes cut from foam sheets become the part of the stamp that’s traditionally made with rubber. Glue the foam to a block of wood, press it onto an ink pad and make your mark wherever you like!
Custom Molded Rubber Stamps
Use Tinkercad to design and 3D print a mold with unique shapes to create rubber stamps out of reusable casting material
Candy Casts
Design and create molds for pourable candies, crayons, and figurines. The molds are typically quick to print, minimizing 3D printer time.
Instructable (detailed step-by-step guide) Custom Laser-cut Mirrors
Learn beginner and advanced graphics techniques for laser cutters while designing and making custom mirrors.
Personalized Rulers
Use Tinkercad to design bespoke rulers with custom units and features. The rulers can be designed for fabrication on a 3D printer, or with a laser cutter or vinyl/craft cutter.
Instructable (detailed step-by-step guide)
Videos with Google Slides
Use Google slides to create your own animated videos, complete with audio. An effective way to share knowledge in a remote learning environment.
Interactive SlidesLeverage familiar tools to create interactive presentations with audio.
Virtual Homemaker
Group Icebreaker activity that works wonderfully in remote learning environments. Make a copy of our slides or find your own fun gifs and make your own!
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